Trend may come up 'short' in workplace

City shorts spark debate over office attire

City shorts spark debate over office attire

June 06, 2006|CARYN GRANT Tribune Staff Writer

The days of blouses, skirts and pumps have long been replaced by crop tops, slacks and open-toe shoes in some workplaces. Now, office dress codes are facing yet another challenge. City shorts, knee-length, tailored shorts (also known as Bermuda shorts or walking shorts) have become a hit in women's apparel stores across the country. And, they've also become a topic of debate concerning appropriate workplace attire. "I think they're fine to wear to work if you dress them up a bit," said Marti Bodine, 60, of Sullivan, Ind., as she was shopping at Talbots in Granger. "It all depends on how you wear it." "I don't see any difference between them and skirts that women wear to work," said Bodine, who works in an attorney's office. "Sometimes they're even longer than the skirts." However, Bodine wouldn't be dressed in city shorts for work at LaSalle Bank, vice president of public relations Rob Darmanin said. "We are fairly conservative because we are a bank," he said. "The face we want our customers to see is one that is dressed professionally. We don't allow any type of shorts in the office." Darmanin said the dress code differs in various areas of the bank. Corporate offices and non-customer-related areas have relaxed their standards to allow employees to wear such clothing as polo shirts, but otherwise the bank requires employees to dress more professionally. Janis Shaffer, the director of the merchandising education and research center at Indiana University Bloomington, said that city shorts are more controversial than some other recent trends, and likely is one that will pass quickly. "I've actually heard that (the trend of relaxing dress codes) is starting to swing the other way now," Shaffer said. "Some of the companies are starting to be a little more professional in their dress, so they don't want the Bermuda shorts. They think that's too casual. "I've seen people wearing them with a jacket, and that makes it a bit more professional, but it's still a pretty casual look," she continued. The shorts come in various colors, fabrics and lengths and can be paired with different accessories and clothing items for several looks. Betsy Thompson, a fashion spokesperson for Talbots corporation, said, "Companies have dress codes for a lot of different reasons, and a lot of the time it has to do with their client base." "It depends on the office policy, but there are some terrific looks that are very polished and very crisp that I can see looking perfect in a lot of workplaces," she said. Bodine said she could imagine that her daughter, 26, would be more likely to sport the style, but doesn't count out women her age. She compared the style to culottes and split skirts of past fashion trends. "Bermuda shorts are a fashion classic," Thompson said, highlighting the simplicity and practicality of the shorts. "They've been around forever, and they're really up to the moment right now. "This is a perfect example of classics coming back, and they come back stronger," she said.